Loose leaf binder



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mm ww mw Vlas Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADOLPH G. LOTTER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO STATIONERS LOOSE LEAF CO., OF5 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Application filed April 10,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in loose leaf binders of the type illustrated in Patent No. 1,804,626, May 12, 1931.

5 One of the objects of this invention is to provide a loose leaf binder having a simple and effective connection between the free ends of its eXtensible posts and the upper binder head, which holds the posts against movement in either direction with respect to the upper binder head to insure the said binder head being carried upwardly away from the body of leaves during extension of the posts.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a connection of the character described between the free ends of the posts and the upper binder head which is readily releasable to permit the post ends to be projected upwardly above the binder head to facilitate the application of extension sections.

And a further obj ect of this invention is to provide a connection between the free ends of the eXtensible posts and the binder head in which a slide bar carried by the head engages the posts to hold the same against movement in either direction with respect to the head and in which the stress incidental to the application of tension to the posts is transmitted directly from the posts to the binder head to relieve the slide bar of any carrying strain.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical 1931. Serial No. 529,074.

embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of the binder heads of a loose leaf binder embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2-2;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the upper binder head on the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1 showing the terminal member in elevation.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 and 6 represent the upper and lower binder heads, respectively, of a loose leaf binder between which a body of leaves 7 is adapted to be clamped and protected by cover members not shown, hingedly connected with the binder heads by hinge pins 8 and 9. The binder heads are of tubular construction, preferably formed from sheet metal or tubing of approximately rectangular shape in transverse section, and have their ends closed by caps 10 which provide means for mounting the hinge pins 8 and 9.

The binder heads are adapted to be connected by a pair of extensible ieXible post members 11 having their lower ends passed through openings 12 into the lower binder head to be connected, as at 18, with nut members 14 slidable within the lower binder head. The nut members 14e have bores internally threaded with right and left threads to receive the corresponding threads of a screw 15 rotatably mounted in the lower binder. The screw 15, upon being turned by a crank 16 or the like, effects longitudinal movement of the nut members 14 toward and away from each other to retract and extend the flexible posts, as will be readily apparent.

The outer free ends of the flexible posts have-socketed sections 17 secured thereto to receive the threaded studs 18V of terminal members 19. If desired, extension sections, not shown, may be inserted between the socketed members 17 and the terminal members 19 to increase the length of the flexible posts.

The terminal members 19 extend through openings 20 and 2l in the bottom and top walls respectively of the upper binder head, and the top'V wall has its portions surrounding the openings 21 depressed to form pockets 22 to receive enlarged heads 23 on the extreme outer ends of the members 19. These enlarged .heads 23 prevent downward movement of the post sections through the upper binder head upon the application of tension to the flexible posts. The strain incidental to the application of tension to the posts is thus imparted directly to the top wall of the upper binder head.

Asit is desirable to have the upper binder head move away from the body of leaves during extension of the posts a releasable connection between the binder head and the osts isprovided. This connection is efected by a slide bar 24 mounted within the upper binder head andyprovided with key hole openings 25, the large portions 26 of which are of a size to permit the poststo be passed therethrough and the smaller portions 27 being engageable with the reduced annular or neck portions 28 formed in the media-l portionswof the terminal members.r Vith the slide `bar moved to its position engaging its key hole slots withv the neck portions in theterminal members, it is apparent that any downward pull or tension on the part 'of the exible posts is transmitted d1- rectly to the upper binder head.

Theslide bar 24 is maintained in proper yspaced relation with respect to the top and bottom walls of the binder head by foot members 29'projected from its bottom and by the bottom edges of the depressed pockets 22 in the top wall of the binder head, and if desired a spring 80 may be employed to take up any slack and hold the bar in its lowermost position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, itwillbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described apparatus, that the connection afforded by the slide bar engaging the grooves in the terminal members at the free ends of the flexible posts is readily releasable to permit the posts to be projected through and above the upper binder head if desired, and that the slide bar does not carry anyv of the clamping stress, effected by applying tension to the posts. f

I claim: y Y

- 1. In a' loose leaf binder having a pair of binder heads, and substantially flexible postl members extensibly connected with one head and each such post member being passed entirely through alined openings in the other head, means on the extreme ends of said post members adapted to engagesaid other head to prevent` the post members being pulled through the openings in said other head upon Y retraction thereof, and a member slidably mounted within said other head having means thereon engageable with the post members to prevent' movement of the post members binder heads between which loose leaves are to be clamped and substantially flexible post members extensibly connected with onebinder head, each post member being adapted to have its free end passed entirely through openings in the other binder head, terminal members on the free ends of saidpost members passing through said openings andi having enlarged outer extremities to prevent movement of the terminal members through the openings in one direction, a member slidably mounted within said other binder head, and abutments on said terminal members engageable with said last named member to prevent movement ofthe post members through the openings in the other direction.

3. Ibn a loose leaf binder having afpair of binder heads adapted to clamp a plurality of looseleaves, substantially flexible post members extensiblyconnected with onehead adapted to have their free end portions passed entirely.V through openingsin the other binder head, terminal members on said free ends of the iiexible post members passing through said openings and having reduced neck portions intermediate their ends, a slide bar within said other binder head and having key hole slots releasably engageable with said reduced neck portions of the terminal members toy secure the binder heads against :movement with respect to the post members, and enlarged heads on the terminal members adapted to engage said other binder head to transmit strain incidental to the application of tension to the posts directly to the said binder head and prevent the terminal members from being pulledthrough the openings in said L binder head in one direction. Y Y

4, In a binder of the character described including a pair of binder heads and posts therebetween, one of said binder heads having a wall thereof adapted to Contact the sheets of said binder and a parallel Vwall in spaced relation thereto, said walls being pro-l vided with aligned' openings to receive the ends of the binder posts therethrough, a portion of said last named wall cooperating with means on one end of each of said binder posts to prevent withdrawal of said ends of said posts through said binder head in one direction and means slidably mounted bet-Ween said walls to prevent the movement of the posts through said binder head in the opposite direction.

5. 1n a binder ot the character described, including a pair of binder heads and posts therebetween, one of said binder heads having a wall thereof adapted to Contact the sheets of said binder and a parallel wall in spaced relation thereto, said walls being provided with aligned openings to receive the ends of the binder posts therethrough, a portion of said last named wall cooperating with means on one end of each of said binder posts to prevent withdrawal of said ends of said posts through said binder head, and a plate slidably mounted between the walls of said binder head and releasably engaging portions of said posts to prevent movement of said posts through said head.

6. 1n a binder of the character described including a pair ot binder heads having binder posts therebetween, one of said binder heads having spaced parallel walls through which said posts pass, means to prevent the withdrawal of said binder posts from said last named head in one direction, means slidably mounted between said walls to prevent the withdrawal of the binder posts from said head in the other direction and means resiliently urging said last named means away from said first named means.

7. 1n a binder of the character described incluoing a pair of binder heads, one ot said binder heads having spaced parallel walls,

. a binder post passing' through said walls av plate mounted between said walls and having foot members attached thereto, said plate being adapted to releasably engage the binder post, and spring means constantly urging said foot members into engagement with one of said walls.

8. In a binder of the character described including a pair ot binder heads, and ay plurality of binder posts therebetween, one of said binder heads having spaced parallel walls through which said posts pass, a plate member having a plurality of feet thereon engageable with one of said walls to maintain said plate in spaced relation to said wall, said plate member being adapted to releasably engage all of said binder posts simultaneously, and spring` means constantly urging said feet against the wall with which they are engageable.

9. In a binder of the character described including a pair of binder heads, and a plurality of binder posts therebetween, one of said binder heads having spaced parallel walls through which said posts pass, a plate member having a plurality of feet thereon engageable with one of said walls to mainsignature.

ADOLPH Gr. LDTTER. 

